asked the Minister for Justice if he will take steps to trace the source of the counterfeit notes in circulation.
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Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Counterfeit Notes.
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asked the Minister for Justice if he will take steps to counteract the counterfeit notes in circulation.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
The gardaí are investigating incidents involving forged notes and a number of prosecutions are pending. They have also issued warnings about forged notes and will do so when and as often as they think useful.
Is the Minister aware that the issue of the counterfeit notes dates back for a period of approximately six months? Will he state what steps were taken to get to the source of the notes?
The Garda are investigating, in accordance with normal police procedures, the appearance of these notes in public in an effort to trace the source. So far they have been unsuccessful in tracing the source but the investigations are still proceeding. A number of people found in possession of them and attempting to pass them have been prosecuted and the prosecutions are pending. The Garda are satisfied that the publicity the matter got last December when it first came to notice was effective in warning the public of the danger. While they would like to come on the source of the notes, I understand that the existence of these notes is now so well known as to blunt any possibility of their doing harm.
Will the Minister state what steps have been taken to acquaint the public with the methods used in producing the notes? For example, what steps are being taken to make the public aware that the serial numbers of the notes are not in order and are at odds with the notes in circulation?
The Garda issued a notice on 23rd December, 1975, drawing attention to the existence of the forged notes. Their existence also got publicity in a newspaper at that time. I have no doubt the Deputy's question today will be of considerable assistance in alerting the public once more to the possibility that some of these may still be in circulation.